All In

I am a Jalen Hurts fan. Despite losing the starting position he owned in 2016 and 2017, the Alabama quarterback has continued to demonstrate the type of leadership experts write about but we seldom witness, especially in one so young.

He has put team first.
He has celebrated his teammates’ success even when that success overshadowed his own.
He has demonstrated integrity while ignoring the external chatter.
He has stayed the course he committed to as a high school junior.
He has fully committed to the team’s goals even if it meant sacrificing his own.

He has embodied what it means to be all in.

Inhale Commitment, Exhale Disengagement…
Inhale Integrity, Exhale Indifference…
Inhale Devotion, Exhale Disloyalty…
Just Breathe

#JustBreathe
#Commitment

Delayed Gratification

I would love to listen to an Alabama Football coach recruiting new players. Year after year, they manage to convince elite 5 and 4 star athletes to commit to a “process” which requires them to compete for the positions for which they were recruited. Sometimes it takes a couple of years for a highly recruited player to break through to starter status. And yet when they do break through, they seem to be more engaged and even hungrier, if that’s possible. It’s almost as if the wait for their moment in the spotlight makes them appreciate it more.

“We create a standard for how we want to do things, and everybody’s got to buy into that standard or you really can’t have any team chemistry.” ~ Nick Saban

Inhale Culture, Exhale Complacency…
Inhale Commitment, Exhale Complacency…
Inhale Consistency, Exhale Complacency…
Just Breathe

#JustBreathe
#Culture

Living My Values

After stressing out about arriving late to some early morning meetings, I realized I wasn’t honoring my value of easing into my day. I was committing to someone else’s timeline and not recognizing my prior commitment to myself.

So I recommitted to my rejuvenation time and stopped rushing to start my day. The result? Peace and calm.

“The important thing in life is to have a center so sound that nothing outside ourselves can disturb it.” ~ Joan Chittister, In a High Spiritual Season

Inhale Lived Values, Exhale Abandoned Values…
Inhale Commitment, Exhale Forgetfulness…
Inhale Self-Care, Exhale Stress…
Just Breathe

#Values
#JustBreathe

American Rights

I spent the entirety of my last visit to the National Museum of African American History and Culture in the art gallery on the 4th level. The relentless nature of racism so palpable throughout the museum is present in this space as the catalyst for uniquely American art.

The piece that haunted me, “Increase Risk with Emotional Faith” by Kevin Cole, looks innocuous enough: wide, colorful ties intertwined in a haphazard even whimsical fashion. But the chilling inspiration for the piece was the artist’s grandfather’s story of a lynching tree in Tarry, Arkansas and the memories of black men, lynched for trying to vote, their ties wrapped around the noose as a warning to other black men.

Especially in the states of the confederacy, people of color fought and died for the right to vote in this country. I pray it’s a right we take advantage of before it is lost to all Americans.

“You have to tend to this garden of democracy, otherwise things can fall apart fairly quickly. And we’ve seen societies where that happens…so pay attention and vote.” ~ President Barack Obama

#JustVote

Commitment to Freedom

I honor those pursuing the call of freedom in and out of uniform…those committed to making the ultimate sacrifice if asked…those at the forefront of our internal struggle to realize our country’s commitment to freedom… those resisting the daily assault on the freedoms declared by our founders so many years ago…

”We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”

Freedom is not free; freedom requires commitment.

Inhale Commitment, Exhale Constraint…
Inhale Sacrifice, Exhale Inequality…
Inhale Freedom, Exhale Assault…
Just Breathe

#JustBreathe
#Commitment
#MyAmerica
#IsAmericaFreeYet?

Everyday Values

“It’s not hard to make decisions when you know what your values are.” ~ Roy E. Disney.

If you say you value integrity, SHOULDN”T you be where you say you’re going to be, when you say you’re going to be there…do what you say you’re going to do, when you say you are going to do it…you know, be accountable to yourself?

Asking for a friend…

Inhale Integrity, Exhale Excuses…
Inhale Commitment, Exhale Guilt…
Inhale Accountability, Exhale Anxiety…
Just Breathe…

#Values
#JustBreathe

Perfection

Sometimes the fear that keeps us from pursuing our purpose is hidden under the guise of a quest for perfection. But God doesn’t require us to be perfect to start our journey to purpose, He only requires us to be committed to His call on our lives.

“Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.” Galatians 1:10, NIV

Inhale Commitment, Exhale Perfection…
Inhale Compliance, Exhale Perfection…
Inhale Creation, Exhale Perfection…
Just Breathe…

#JustBreathe
#Fear